The proposed National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth is slated to get up to $3 million for infrastructure improvements from the Regional Transportation Council.

As transportation policy body of the North Texas Council of Governments, the council approved the funds during its June 8 meeting.

What happened

The council unanimously voted to authorize $3 million to assist in infrastructure improvements near the future site of the National Juneteenth Museum. The funds will come from the Regional Toll Revenue program and Surface Transportation Block Group program, according to a council presentation. The investments will be contingent on the $70 million museum coming to fruition.

Diving in deeper

The National Juneteenth Museum was officially announced in 2021, according to a Fort Worth city news release. The 50,000-square-foot building will include:

• 10,000 square feet of exhibit space
• A 250-seat theater to host lectures, speakers and performances
• Flexible space for traveling exhibits, seminars and events
• Coworking space for local entrepreneurs
• A food hall featuring local chefs
• A National Juneteenth Plaza, courtyard and green space

The museum is one component of a larger redevelopment project planned for the area. In addition, the city of Fort Worth is partnering with Hoque Global to build at least 370 housing units and retail space near the proposed museum site. The city has also committed more than $1 million to design and construction of Evans Plaza Park.

Museum construction is expected to break ground later in 2023 and is slated to open June 19, 2025, according to the museum’s website.

What they’re saying

The action partners the council with Fort Worth in redeveloping part of the city, Transportation Director Michael Morris said during the June 8 meeting.

“This is a big deal,” Morris said. “But it’s a big deal and a bigger deal because of the investments the city of Fort Worth is making in what are some of the poorest neighborhoods in Fort Worth and in southeast Fort Worth.”